Has life got you so caught up that you seem to have 3 weeks work to do in one week?  Making lists and never crossing items off them?

All too often we are being controlled and reacting to the environment around us and allowing others wishes to be more important to us than achieving our own long term goals.

Have you got your goals up in front of you?

Do you know where you are now and what the gap is between your goal and your current reality?

Have you set out a strategy to achieve that goal?

Have you set out the first set of action steps required to achieve the first strategy step?

Do you have someone to hold you accountable to achieving these strategy steps?

Are they realistic and timely?

Are they connected to your emotional wants as a reward?

Coaching places a realistic perspective on your Goals and helps you evaluate them to “plug up the leaks”.

Some of the key differences people who achieve have are:

• They are constantly scanning for opportunities
• They read regularly and over a wide selection of genres for balance
• They give of their time and skills generously
• They charge appropriately and will often be seen as over the market but exceptionally great service and value for money
• They look after their personal health and spiritual needs
• They love their family and make sure they spend time with them and are also catered for when they are not there.
• They seek mentors and accountability buddies.

This journey is not a short quick fix, change and achieving rewards takes knowledge, application, effort, mistakes and more learning.  It will involve huge emotional challenges and rewards.  But most of all it is satisfying and increases your humility, self-esteem and self-confidence.

Enjoy the journey and reach out to a Coach to help you get on track, explore your options and hold you accountable.

John Burkhardt - Gold Coast Christian Business Coach

Do you have a quiet place to relax? A place where you can be just yourself without the mask imposed on you by society?  Increasing in coaching we come across not only the lack of balance in our life/work but also the lack of balance in our relationships within both areas and the realization that we need to enhance that to better the relationship.

Some strategies we help implement are:

Time management – helping you learn and apply decision making, prioritizing and effective tracking and planning of your limited tool – Time!

Blocking out quiet time – in either your business or personal time to be just you and to do the things you want to do.  A time used for enjoyment, reflection and spiritual interaction.

Communication Profiling – participating in a fun communication tool which easily and effectively helps you recognise your communication type and also become clearer in identifying how others you communicate with regularly are wired and want to partake in communication.  Get a free communication profile at www.facematrix.com.au and let me know what you think via email. (P.S. also enter in the facilitators’ code of FF001AU.

Getting into a Support Triage – Have you got a support structure for your own sanity?  Do you have regular meetings with business colleagues’ or friends where you can get impartial input into your challenges and decisions knowing that they will be open, honest and share willingly whilst respecting your privacy and confidentiality?

The implementation of these strategies is to get you walking in the sunshine enjoying your life as it was intended.

As your business grows you will be faced with challenging functions that you either have no or a limited skills set in. This could be marketing, accounting, financial invoicing, form design or any other business function.

A basic thought process for good outsourcing is looking at whether you can delegate, eliminate or leverage the function.

A good starting point is asking yourself where your skills set places on a 1-10 scale for the function required to be most effective and efficient.

Secondly, are you wanting to do this function?  Is it something that you wish to learn more skills for?  Is it something that having that skills set will be part of your long term role and business goals?  Do you need to know just a little more before you delegate or outsource the function?

Answering these will quickly show you your attitude to the function and will allow you to emotionally move past “hanging onto that function”.

Delegating

Can you delegate the function to someone else within your business? Is this time and resource effective?

Can you delegate to outside contractors either within the local area or via ecommerce outsourcing such as ODesk or eLance?

Are you prepared to be very specific as to what you expect and to set the boundaries and KPI associated with that function?

Eliminating

Can you eliminate the function altogether?  Scary thought, but sometimes we do things because that is how they have always been done and no-one has ever questioned if it is necessary to the end product/service or if there is a better way of doing it.  There have been cases of 12 page documents being reduced to 2 pages and obtaining the necessary information to do the required task.  Sometimes we just have to get out of the forest to see the trees.

Leverage

The most common way to leverage is by allowing someone with these skills sets to do the function much more effectively and efficiently that you ever would.  In doing this you pick up a larger time period, reduce your stress and actually make money to offset the outsourcing or delegated tasks.  The most common example is bookkeeping, artwork and form design.

The effective use of your skills set to concentrate on your passion and talents will quickly be rewarded.

Should you create an entire system, HR support etc for functions that aren’t the core of your business or leverage your time and resources by contracting a business who specializes in that area. e.g. Information Technology, Marketing, Graphic Design etc.

John Burkhardt – Amplio Business Solutions

A lot of time is wasted and relationships formed during meetings.  So what is the answer for a balanced productive meeting to achieve your objectives and to ensure all parties are happy with the result?

Some Simple Guidelines to Effective Meetings (Time Management):

Have an agenda – Issue it before the meeting, ask for input, stick to it.  (Set the meeting context)

Start and finish on time – A little hard to have a meeting by yourself, but respect yourself and your time.  If the other party/s is consistently late or doesn’t turn up, move on.  Is this the type of relationship you want to have?

Keep great notes and circulate them to the attendees/invitees straight after the meeting.  If someone has a problem with the content, let them address it straight away.

Don’t get sidetracked by “fluffy talk”, issues not on the agenda (put them on the next meetings agenda) and keep to time.

Make sure the meeting addresses what the next action step is, who is responsible for it, the outcome desired and when and where the feedback on the action is to go to.  Leaving a meeting without setting responsible and accountable action steps is really a waste of time and energy for everyone.  You call that a social outing!

Keep people honest. If they are going on an ego trip or talking BS, just tell them that and move on.

Set a time, date and agenda for the next meeting before leaving the first one.

I hope this helps, there are lots of templates out there for running a meeting, but keep it simple and stick to the guidelines.

Regards,

John Burkhardt – Amplio Business Solutions

I am your greatest helper and heaviest burden

I will push you onward or drag you down to failure.

I am completely at your command.

Half the things you do, you might just as well turn over to me and I will be able to do them quickly and correctly.

I am easily managed – you must merely be firm with me.

Show me exactly how you want something done and after a few lessons, I will do it automatically.

I am the servant of all great men and women; and alas, of all failures as well.

Those who are great, I have made great.  Those who are failures, Ii have made failures.

I am not a machine, though I work with all the precision of a machine plus the intelligence of a woman or a man.

You may run me for profit or for ruin – it makes no difference to me.

Take me, train me, be firm with me, and I will place the world at your feet.
Be easy with me and I will destroy you.

ANSWER – I AM YOUR HABITS. Anonymous

I have had the pleasure of working with some great people this week.  Part of this journey was working on Goal Setting and yes my mind immediately switched to SMART goals and how they have helped me along in life to achieve certain things.  But there was something missing!

I was focusing on the detail of the goal. The when, how, by whom etc and basically I just turned it into a glorified task list.

I was forgetting something important.  These are my goals and they have to inspire me.

The most important thing was getting rid of all the smart goal thinking until I got to the nuts and bolts of my goal.  When I concentrated on the Vision behind the goal, my goal changed.  It went from being all fluffy to being a feeling to being an emotion that I wanted to embrace.  The details didn’t matter at this stage, it was all about something I could see, feel and get emotional about.  Something that every time I read it just transported me to a place of seeing, feeling and getting emotional about it.

As an example one of my goals (so I thought) started out as:

Cruise, family time, fun together.

This quickly moved with the technique to exploring what they looked like and what they were.

Fun together, cruise/holidays, interesting, regular, different, adventurous, away, 2-3 days minimum, exciting, challenging.

The visualization that came with that included thinking of the types of activities and what the feeling was of doing these.

This identified carefree, exciting, different, spontaneous, adventurous and moved into liberating, no confinement, life changing experiences.

My goal statement after this became:

Our Family Holidays are Life Changing Experiences.

Later I will discuss moving this goal headline into your action list.

What is exciting is every time I see this goal headline, I own it, I can feel it and it excites me!

Good luck reconsidering how you approach your Goals.

John Burkhardt – Amplio Business Solutions.

Just not sure whether the answer is Yes or No, or just maybe?

Here is some simple advice given to me years ago by a Lady that had survived a divorce, the death of her new husband which lead to bankruptcy of their business, a new child with DS and the loss of her first three children to her first husband overseas.

There are always decisions and choices to be made.  It is simply a matter of Yes or No.

Yes, I have all the information necessary to make the choice in front of me and I am happy that in hindsight I won’t beat myself up if its the wrong choice.

No (also hidden as maybe), I don’t have enough information to make this decision and I have to say no.  Do I want to get more information (i.e. I’m a maybe) or am I a  no due to the information I already have.  And, I won’t beat myself up in hindsight either.

When life sometimes gets you down, in business or privately, it is more important than ever to reduce your choices to Yes or No!

It really is that simple!

John Burkhardt - Amplio Business Solutions

All businesses have tasks that need to be done on time every time and are critical usually to other tasks being done effectively or even stopping other tasks from starting until the original one is completed.

Timetabling is the perfect adjunct to position descriptions.  It allows you to plan the processes with respect to the tasks involved, equipment to be used and human resources.

All to often one person has all the tasks in a particular role, so there is no checks and measures in place to ensure that the task is done correctly or on time.  A great example in a basic way was in a business when the role of banking was tasked out between 3 different people.  The receptionist didn’t have to complete the reconciliation or actually take the banking to the bank.  We then timetabled in the closing off of the banking (with the receptionist and initial balance), then the second position checking it and arranging the banking paperwork and then the third position of actually taking the banking to the bank.

Each was given the company policy on banking and the procedure in total and the procedure that was their responsibility. Each was made responsible to make sure that their section was done and to the next position at a set time.

This was timetabled into their daily tasks and it didn’t take long before any one being slack was bought up to speed.  The process also enabled a set of checks that were reported to management.  It didn’t take long before the banking was being done consistently and on time every day.  A task that use to be hit and miss turned into a task with 3 positions responsible!

Following a weekly meeting, the system (procedure) was improved further.  The start of this was simply timetabling in for each position when their task was to be done and allowing them to fine tune the system of what happened and where they took over the total task from and to.

Start timetabling even the simple things, lunch, banking, business planning etc and watch your Day improve

John Burkhardt – Amplio Business Solutions

Technology is the answer! Forget the drawer full of business cards, rolodex and other items.

The power of technology now is great for use with storing information.  Look for  a mobile phone which can synchronize with your computer or laptop.  This is a great way to put your information on your computer outlook (or similar contact management) and then upload the information to your telephone.  I becomes quite time effective during the day and just put in a system that can automatically back up the files when the phone gets close with Bluetooth or an USB cord.

If you have to manually hook up the USB cord, make it the last thing you do in the evening whilst you recharge the phone for the next day.  You will find that your information is always up to date and the phone is always charged.

Most of the newer phones have these capabilities, you just have to ask.  You don’t need a blackberry or iPhone either.  Even the new phones can be synched to upload photos (client pictures or pictures of their premises etc)

Obviously there is more to consider if you share contacts to a server etc, but you can see the power of technology when used correctly.

Simple systems like this are cost effective to implement and can increase your time efficiency greatly.

Its worth the effort.

John B – Amplio Business Solutions

Always swamped with emails and how to manage them?  Got no idea where that email is that you are looking for?

Here are some simple email tips to make you and your time more productive!

1. Learn Outlook or your email program.  The training in the help function and online tutorials is well worth the effort.

2. Match your Inbox folders up to your business structure.  If you haven’t created sub folders in your Inbox, make a point of learning how and doing it. i.e. set up an Accounting folder with sub folders for the government body (ATO, IR etc) and sub folders for the book keeper etc.

3. Follow up your Inbox sub folders with automatic rules and alerts.  Control where the emails come in and the folder they get stored in.  If all else fails you can click on the Unread Mail icon to get all of them up.  This is also a good way of scanning through the incoming emails.

4. Have all emails come into specific email addresses.  This can be info or manager or the department name.  However you set up your business structure, carry it through into all things you do electronically.

5. Send all your emails in the same format. In the header of the email set it up such as AMPLIO – new blog entry or something that highlights who the client is and what it is about.  If it is an internal email to a broad email address then put the persons initials in front of the header entry such as JB – AMPLIO – new blog entry.

6. You can change the header entry on any emails you receive simply by opening them and then altering the header and saving that email.

7. Get a teenager to show you how to do some stuff!  Surprisingly, they sometimes know tricks even we can’t come up with!

8. Experiment, experiment, experiment.

9. Document what you have done and the rules

Have fun out there – in email land

John Burkhardt – Amplio Business Solutions

Which type of person are you.  Do you parallelize yourself with analysis or fear of “what if’s” or do you use the information you have at the time to make an educated decision and get on with.

Sometimes we spend so much time making sure everything is lined up and is right, that we miss the ship.  We were to busy still focusing on how the ship will work, what if this or that goes wrong etc.

Certain decisions in life just need to be made and moved on with.  Hindsight is a wonderful teacher, but don’t let that teacher cripple you.

Have a great day

John Burkhardt - Amplio Business Solutions

Ever wondered what to read when not drowning in business books, journals, gazettes, emails and the all important stationery brochures.  Ahh, I forgot the great car magazines when you happen to purchase an Europeon model.

Well, in the spirit of Work Life balance and utilizing your time well, when trying to relax and generally clocking out of the timed work zone, what are some of the tips to reading for pleasure?

Always keep handy one or two magazines on something you are passionate about and most likely missing out on at the moment.  I could be golf, shooting, model aircraft, quilting or something that you have done in the past and are “getting back to”!

I love biography’s.  You leave some amazing things about people who just seem to be lucky and successful.  Try something unusual like Sidney Poitier, Marcia Hines, Cliff Richards, Billy Connelly or someone else you sort of think have a story to tell.   One of the best is Virgin’s own Sir Richard Branson.

Novels can be a real pain to pick.  I’m quite a quick reader, but if it hasn’t got me in the first hour I ditch it.  Why waste my leisure time on something that’s not exactly fulfilling your enjoyment levels.  You might as well go mow the lawn or pick up the dog poop!

Pick a genre you enjoy and explore.  Realistically unless they are a James Patterson or Wilbur Smith, you will quickly run out of books to read.  Also start sharing your books around.  My Mum keeps me well stocked and with a few other friends and the local library, I’m usually got enough to keep going.

Some of the best I have read lately is the full set of Tony Park novels.  He has a great writing style, intertwines the story very well and uses real life places and colorful characters.

Keep a few inspiration mini books like quotes and chicken soup type books.  They are always good to get into when you just don’t want to spend a lot of time concentrating.

I use reading as part of my time management strategy. Have fun!

John Burkhardt – Amplio Business Solutions

Upon my wife’s insistence, I joined the local library.  We have only been at this location for 18 months, so I’m excused from rushing in.  Haven’t things changed since I last joined a library.  We all know that business systems are incredibly important in running efficient business as well as training your staff in using them.  I was impressed.  The counter was full, but a “spare” staff member spotted me and came across to assist.  She then asked how she could help and listened.  (Rare indeed)  Anyway, she stepped me through the process, the ID required, the rules (well scripted) and checked for understanding before moving on.  I was then presented with a card with my name newly printed on it and asked to read the terms and conditions prior to signing the card.

What a great experience! To be honest, I wandered around the Library trying to make sense of the Dewey system (will have to research Google and the library website) and was still in a bit of shock.  I did find a couple of books about life coaching and why talent is not enough to take home.  My daughter happily added to my stash with a language book and CD.  Upon getting to the loan checkout, I was confronted with self serve or staff assisted service.  Ummm, a little old lady was finishing off on the self service section, maybe I could risk it?

Yes, a touch screen. Swipe the card; yes, so far so good (after two swipes to get it around the correct way).  Place all the books on the grey mat; yes, I can handle that. Do you want a receipt? Yes – but what the.  A list of the books appeared on the screen and the receipt printed off.

Yes, I’m still in shock and wandered off.

The beauty of systems. The amount of books being managed by well defined systems and competent trained staff was brilliant.  Even the staff were smiling.

Now, back to working out the Dewey system!

John Burkhardt - Amplio Business Solutions